Arcana Coelestia volume 7 - Swedenborg Foundation

ARCANA COELESTIA 3588me in the house” signifies that natural good did not desire evenappropriation; “and all that he hath he hath given into my hand”signifies that all was in its power; “he is not greater in this housethan I” signifies that that good was prior in time, not in state; “andhe hath not withheld from me anything but thee” signifies that tobe conjoined with the truth of that good was forbidden; “becausethou art his wife” signifies because it was not to be conjoined withanother good; “and how shall I do this great evil, and sin to God?”signifies that thus there would be disjunction, and no conjunction.4987. And it came to pass after these words. That this signifies athird state is evident from the signification of “it came to pass,” or“it was,” as involving something new (see n. 4979), hereconsequently a third state; and from the signification of “after thesewords” as being after these things were transacted. In the originallanguage one series is not distinguished from another byintervening marks, as in other languages; but the text appears to beas it were continuous from beginning to end. The things in theinternal sense are also in like manner continuous and flowing fromone state of a thing into another; but when one state terminates,and another of importance succeeds, this is indicated by “it was” or“it came to pass”; and a change of state less important by “and.”This is the reason why these expressions so frequently occur. Thisstate, which is the third, and which is now treated of is moreinterior than the former.4988. That his lord’s wife lifted up her eyes to Joseph. That thissignifies truth natural not spiritual adjoined to natural good, and itsperception is evident from the signification of a “wife” as beingtruth adjoined to good (n. 1468, 2517, 3236, 4510, 4823), heretruth natural not spiritual adjoined to natural good, because thistruth and this good are treated of, that good to which this truth isconjoined being here the “lord” (n. 4973); and from thesignification of “lifting up the eyes” as being thought, intention,and also perception (n. 2789, 2829, 3198, 3202, 4339).[2] By the “wife” is here signified truth natural, but not truthspiritual natural; and by the husband, who is here the “lord,” is